Métodos de imagem tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética para o diagnóstico de acidente vascular cerebral

Abstract

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability in Brazil and other parts of the world, posing a significant public health challenge due to its frequency and the serious neurological sequelae it causes. The objective of this study is to evaluate the importance of Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of stroke, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and clinical uses. Therefore, an Integrative Literature Review was conducted, with searches performed between January and June 2025 on the SciELO, PubMed, BVS, and Google Scholar platforms, using terms in Portuguese and English connected by Boolean operators such as "or" and "and". The initial screening excluded 49 studies based on their titles; after reading the abstracts, another 54 were discarded for not meeting the eligibility criteria, and the complete analysis of the texts eliminated another 11 for not addressing the diagnosis of stroke by imaging. In the end, 10 articles remained in the final sample of the review. It is observed that CT stands out for its speed and accessibility in emergencies, being efficient in distinguishing between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, while MRI demonstrates greater sensitivity in the early identification of ischemic lesions and in the evaluation of prognosis. It is concluded that the two modalities complement each other; CT is essential for immediate care, while MRI is indispensable for detailed diagnosis and clinical monitoring of the patient.